We have a new ticket with Harris and Walz and lots of energy and enthusiasm, not to mention all the crucial down ballot races including a tough Senate path. But all this excitement doesn't mean anything unless it turns into votes! Your vote really could make the difference, so this email contains important guidance to help make sure you successfully vote in this year’s election.
It's essential to remember -- every state has different rules for when you need to request your ballot and how you can return it. Before you do anything else go to https://www.votefromabroad.
Step 1: If you haven't yet in 2024, register and request your ballot by following the instructions at www.votefromabroad.org. We highly recommend voters request to receive ballots via email. Some states purge their voter rolls frequently, so be sure to send your request by your state's registration deadline to make sure you are registered.
Step 2: Send an email to or call your Local Election Office (LEO) to make sure they confirm you have requested your absentee ballot. Don’t know your LEO? Follow the prompts at https://www.votefromabroad.
Step 3: Prepare to receive your ballot via email from now until "Ballot Day", September 21. Local election offices are required to send voters their ballots by that date (at least 45 days before the election). If you do not get it, contact your LEO immediately and also email us to help (Info-UAE@democratsabroad.org)
Step 4: Have a plan in place to submit your ballot. We can provide the following guidance on HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR BALLOT in the UAE:
Each state has different requirements in place for returning ballots - email/online/fax/mail. Please use the fastest method that your state allows. Find out your state’s options by checking for your state at https://www.votefromabroad.
- Many states allow an EMAIL/ONLINE ballot submission: AL, AZ, CO, DC, DE, HI, IN, KS, MA, ME, MS, MT, NC, NJ, ND, NE, NM, NV, RI, OR, SC, UT, WA, and WV. If you vote in one of these states, you should be all set! Follow the instructions you get and submit your ballot via email or online.
- Some states allow FAX returns: AK, CA, FL, LA, OK. There are downloadable apps that allow you to send a document via fax.
- The remaining state require you to mail your ballot (ugh!). If you vote in one of these states here are your options:
1. U.S. Embassy or Consulate: The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and U.S. Consulate General in Dubai are accepting ballots to be mailed via diplomatic pouch.
- If you wish to submit your ballot, Federal Post Card Application, or other voting materials through the U.S. postal system via the Embassy, your ballot must be signed and sealed in an envelope addressed to your election official, either with U.S. postage affixed or using postage-paid return envelope (template should be received from your LEO when you get your ballot). You may drop off your signed and sealed ballot at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi on Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. or at the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai on Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (except on UAE or US holidays).
- The Embassy & Consulate recommend all ballots be delivered to the U.S. Embassy on or before October 1st, 2024.
- This is the most cost-effective option (free), however the Embassy cannot guarantee that your ballot will arrive in time to be counted. Diplomatic pouch mailing can sometimes take as long as 4-6 weeks to arrive at its final destination in the U.S. So if your state requires you to mail your ballot, make sure you fill it out and return it as early as possible to be sure it gets to your election office on time!
2. Courier: ALL states will accept ballots via courier (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc).
- If you can’t get to the Embassy/Consulate or if you can't mail it back until after October 1st, this may be your best choice - although it is more expensive.
- Be careful though that couriers will not deliver to a PO Box, so if your Local Election Office’s address is a PO Box, you will need to email or call them to get their street address. You can find your LEO here: https://www.
votefromabroad.org/states .
3. Emirates Post: Mail your ballot using the UAE mail system (Emirates Post) if it is sending mail overseas. Check at any post office. You should be able to send it so that you can track delivery status.
As a final precaution, we recommend for any voters in the 20 states that require ballots to be returned by mail, to fill in and submit ASAP a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (aka “Backup Ballot”). The Backup Ballot will be counted in case your normal ballot is not received in time. Instructions on completing the FWAB are available here (https://www.votefromabroad.
WHEW! That was a lot of info but hopefully it helped make things a little clearer. If we leave you with one takeaway it's the importance of having a VOTING PLAN. By the time election day comes, it's too late for most of us to get our votes cast & counted. In order to make our voices heard, each of us needs to know:
- Our state's deadlines for registration, ballot request and ballot return;
- HOW we are allowed to return our ballot in our state;
- If we have to mail it, how we will return it; and
- how to contact our local election officials (LOE) to confirm receipt of our requests and ballots.
We need every vote we can get, so cast yours early and let all your friends know what they need to make their voting plan. We at Democrats Abroad are always here to help with any challenges or questions you have about voting so don't hesitate to contact us for anything you need to know.
Let's win this!
We have a new ticket with Harris and Walz and lots of energy and enthusiasm, not to mention all the crucial down ballot races including a tough Senate path. But all this excitement doesn't mean anything unless it turns into votes! Your vote really could make the difference, so this email contains important guidance to help make sure you successfully vote in this year’s election.
It's essential to remember -- every state has different rules for when you need to request your ballot and how you can return it. Before you do anything else go to https://www.votefromabroad.
Step 1: If you haven't yet in 2024, register and request your ballot by following the instructions at www.votefromabroad.org. We highly recommend voters request to receive ballots via email. Some states purge their voter rolls frequently, so be sure to send your request by your state's registration deadline to make sure you are registered.
Step 2: Send an email to or call your Local Election Office (LEO) to make sure they confirm you have requested your absentee ballot. Don’t know your LEO? Follow the prompts at https://www.votefromabroad.
Step 3: Prepare to receive your ballot via email from now until "Ballot Day", September 21. Local election offices are required to send voters their ballots by that date (at least 45 days before the election). If you do not get it, contact your LEO immediately and also email us to help (Info-UAE@democratsabroad.org)
Step 4: Have a plan in place to submit your ballot. We can provide the following guidance on HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR BALLOT in the UAE:
Each state has different requirements in place for returning ballots - email/online/fax/mail. Please use the fastest method that your state allows. Find out your state’s options by checking for your state at https://www.votefromabroad.
- Many states allow an EMAIL/ONLINE ballot submission: AL, AZ, CO, DC, DE, HI, IN, KS, MA, ME, MS, MT, NC, NJ, ND, NE, NM, NV, RI, OR, SC, UT, WA, and WV. If you vote in one of these states, you should be all set! Follow the instructions you get and submit your ballot via email or online.
- Some states allow FAX returns: AK, CA, FL, LA, OK. There are downloadable apps that allow you to send a document via fax.
- The remaining state require you to mail your ballot (ugh!). If you vote in one of these states here are your options:
1. U.S. Embassy or Consulate: The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and U.S. Consulate General in Dubai are accepting ballots to be mailed via diplomatic pouch.
- If you wish to submit your ballot, Federal Post Card Application, or other voting materials through the U.S. postal system via the Embassy, your ballot must be signed and sealed in an envelope addressed to your election official, either with U.S. postage affixed or using postage-paid return envelope (template should be received from your LEO when you get your ballot). You may drop off your signed and sealed ballot at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi on Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. or at the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai on Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (except on UAE or US holidays).
- The Embassy & Consulate recommend all ballots be delivered to the U.S. Embassy on or before October 1st, 2024.
- This is the most cost-effective option (free), however the Embassy cannot guarantee that your ballot will arrive in time to be counted. Diplomatic pouch mailing can sometimes take as long as 4-6 weeks to arrive at its final destination in the U.S. So if your state requires you to mail your ballot, make sure you fill it out and return it as early as possible to be sure it gets to your election office on time!
2. Courier: ALL states will accept ballots via courier (e.g., FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc).
- If you can’t get to the Embassy/Consulate or if you can't mail it back until after October 1st, this may be your best choice - although it is more expensive.
- Be careful though that couriers will not deliver to a PO Box, so if your Local Election Office’s address is a PO Box, you will need to email or call them to get their street address. You can find your LEO here: https://www.
votefromabroad.org/states .
3. Emirates Post: Mail your ballot using the UAE mail system (Emirates Post) if it is sending mail overseas. Check at any post office. You should be able to send it so that you can track delivery status.
As a final precaution, we recommend for any voters in the 20 states that require ballots to be returned by mail, to fill in and submit ASAP a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (aka “Backup Ballot”). The Backup Ballot will be counted in case your normal ballot is not received in time. Instructions on completing the FWAB are available here (https://www.votefromabroad.
WHEW! That was a lot of info but hopefully it helped make things a little clearer. If we leave you with one takeaway it's the importance of having a VOTING PLAN. By the time election day comes, it's too late for most of us to get our votes cast & counted. In order to make our voices heard, each of us needs to know:
- Our state's deadlines for registration, ballot request and ballot return;
- HOW we are allowed to return our ballot in our state;
- If we have to mail it, how we will return it; and
- how to contact our local election officials (LOE) to confirm receipt of our requests and ballots.
We need every vote we can get, so cast yours early and let all your friends know what they need to make their voting plan. We at Democrats Abroad are always here to help with any challenges or questions you have about voting so don't hesitate to contact us for anything you need to know.
Let's win this!